and the portfolio are made by staff from the DRB. Students also have to produce evidence of research in the form of written assignments. The number of assignments and their individual length and content varies between the DRBs. Historically, GTP students attended a number of centrally taught days administered by their DRB, which varied from DRB to DRB. Some, for example, offered six taught days distributed throughout the year. Others offered fortnightly taught days. However, since September 2008 there is a standardised requirement for all trainees to undertake 60 days of training, shared between the DRB and the school. The reason for the change is to make the GTP a more academic-based qualification which will enjoy broader recognition, and also provide a basis for credits towards a Master of Education degree (MEd). The intention is to attract a higher calibre of applicants, especially well-qualified graduates who might otherwise have opted for the costly but better-recognised PGCE course. Completion of training On completion of the training year, the successful student is recommended for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) by the DRB. This is then normally awarded through the General Teaching Council for England or the General Teaching Council for Wales, allowing the student to work as a teacher in England or Wales. In exceptional instances QTS can be awarded in less time, but this is rare. QTS may be withheld if the relevant teaching council is unhappy about the standard of training offered by the DRB. This, too, is very rare. International recognition Unlike academic-based teaching qualifications such as the PGCE, the GTP is not well recognised outside England and Wales, with evaluation services in countries including Scotland, Australia and New Zealand and Canada finding it difficult to evaluate employment-based training teacher training pathways. History The GTP was first offered in 1998. It was originally aimed at mature entrants to the teaching profession, who could not afford to give up work and undertake a traditional method of teacher training such as the PGCE. Because of this, the programme was restricted to those aged 24 and over. However, the age requirement was dropped in 2004 to avoid breaking new European Union discrimination laws. See also Registered Teacher Programme References External links Graduate Teacher Programme - TDA website the QTS 33 Standards on the TDA website - up-to-date information on the QTS Skills Tests Designated Recommending Bodies General Teaching Council for Scotland registration requirements